Lower Elementary 6-9

The elementary program is best described as a community of inquisitive and motivated learners. Elementary age children are naturally curious. There seem to be no limit to the kinds of questions they ask. Maria Montessori characterized this age as having “the reasoning mind.” Students explore the world and abstract though begins to emerge.

Classrooms are active and students remain engaged in a variety of work as individuals, with partners or in small groups. The classroom itself is designed to meet the needs of the child, provide structure, and facilitate concentration for individual and small group work. The layout, procedures and materials demonstrate to the child how to self-correct and enable them to delve deeply into “big work” and explore new subjects. There are designated areas in the classroom for language arts, mathematics, cultural subjects, science, practical life and space for group meetings or large group lessons. This flexible space allows teachers to adapt the room to maximize the children's learning needs. With the three age levels in the classroom, older children inspire and guide the younger children. When three age groups are present, children connect with those at their developmental level, not just their numerical age.

The Montessori elementary curriculum allows students to see and explore connections between concepts they are actively learning. By see challenges from different viewpoints teaches critical thinking and problem solving skills. Many lessons or “works” are designed to trigger curiosity and enthusiasm for further exploration. The result is that a child is eager to learn, even topics that might not have personally interested them in earlier studies.

At each elementary program level there is a comprehensive curriculum with standardized testing to gauge progress. These learning objectives meet or exceed state and national curriculum guidelines while allowing student both the structure and the flexibility to master the concepts. Students benefit from the support of highly-trained teachers who monitor and encourage their progress as they master each skill at their own level and pace.